Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital and the University of Tennessee Health Science Center are proud to announce Debra L. Palazzi, MD, MEd, as Pediatrician-in-Chief at Le Bonheur Children’s and the Dunavant Chair of Pediatrics at UT Health Science Center College of Medicine.

A nationally recognized leader in pediatric infectious diseases, Dr. Palazzi has dedicated her career to advancing clinical care, championing medical education and promoting scientific inquiry to benefit the care of children. Palazzi has demonstrated sustained professional leadership at the institutional and national levels, contributing to the growth and direction of the pediatric infectious diseases community. She currently serves as Professor of Pediatrics and Division Chief of Pediatric Infectious Diseases at Baylor College of Medicine and Texas Children’s Hospital in Houston, TX and President of the Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society.

Palazzi attended Princeton University, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in Molecular

Biology. She received her Doctor of Medicine from the University of North Carolina School of Medicine, followed by a pediatric residency at Carolinas Medical Center in Charlotte, NC. She completed her Pediatric Infectious Diseases Fellowship at Baylor College of Medicine and later earned a Master of Education with an emphasis in the Health Sciences from the University of Houston.

At Baylor College of Medicine and Texas Children’s Hospital, Palazzi has been recognized with numerous honors, including multiple institutional teaching awards, the Star Award for Excellence in Patient Care and the Master Clinician Award. Palazzi’s passion for education extends nationally through her many editorial and teaching roles. She serves as Editor of the AAP’s Nelson’s Pediatric Antimicrobial Therapy, a key reference guiding evidence-based antimicrobial use in children. She is also Associate Editor for JAMA Pediatrics, the top ranked journal in child health, where she helps shape the dissemination of high-impact research and scholarship affecting children.  Palazzi’s research interests focus on diagnostic and antimicrobial stewardship, with the goal of improving patient outcomes while reducing unnecessary antimicrobial exposure.

Building on the strong foundations of UT Health Science Center and Le Bonheur,  Palazzi looks forward to advancing care for children and families.

Palazzi will begin her new role on July 1, 2026.